Written Answers Tuesday 22 April 2008

Scottish Executive

Cancer

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in the NHS Tayside area in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer are available by NHS board and year (1980 to 2004) on the NHS Information Services Division (ISD) website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/cancer_cervix_inc.xls .

  The latest year for which cancer registration data are complete is 2004.

Communities

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued on the establishment, composition and remit of community forums.

John Swinney: Since May 2007, no guidance has been issued on the establishment, composition and remit of community forums.

Council Tax

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether international full-time college students, serving in unpaid internships while living in Scotland, are eligible for council tax exemption.

John Swinney: International full-time students receive a council tax exemption for the duration of their course, but do not receive a council tax exemption by virtue of undertaking an unpaid internship.

Council Tax

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish council tax collection rates for each local authority since 1997, broken down into total tax (a) due for collection, (b) collected and (c) the percentage of which has actually been collected.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government publishes detailed statistics on collection rates each year. The latest publication can be seen at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/06/22095121/0 .

  This data is at council level and includes the percentages for each council. The billed and collected amounts are published at the Scotland level.

Council Tax

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent on collecting council tax in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Swinney: The information is contained in the following table:

  Council Tax Collection (Including Council Tax Discounts and Community Charge Residual Costs) Net Revenue Expenditure (£000)

  

 
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Scotland
 37,294
 37,551
 36,507
 38,346
 40,541


 Aberdeen City
 1,448
 2,295
 1,819
 1,771
 1,315


 Aberdeenshire
 2,775
 2,858
 2,248
 2,666
 1,394


 Angus
 1,092
 1,407
 1,095
 1,097
 1,296


 Argyll and Bute
 531
 672
 665
 750
 697


 Clackmannanshire
 170
 112
 113
 116
 282


 Dumfries and Galloway1
 885
 -222
 1,180
 1,775
 1,540


 Dundee City
 2,807
 2,800
 2,930
 3,446
 3,056


 East Ayrshire
 814
 864
 874
 865
 896


 East Dunbartonshire
 241
 231
 285
 565
 404


 East Lothian
 549
 553
 566
 499
 487


 East Renfrewshire
 204
 263
 325
 333
 263


 Edinburgh City
 1,379
 1,663
 1,455
 1,308
 4,738


 Eilean Siar
 304
 358
 387
 463
 356


 Falkirk
 70
 102
 34
 106
 14


 Fife
 1,873
 2,150
 2,176
 1,538
 2,426


 Glasgow City
 8,030
 7,561
 8,439
 6,541
 7,903


 Highland
 1,683
 1,950
 1,945
 1,723
 1,877


 Inverclyde
 427
 468
 286
 450
 210


 Midlothian
 598
 770
 637
 816
 823


 Moray
 742
 849
 780
 791
 848


 North Ayrshire
 702
 898
 756
 1,275
 956


 North Lanarkshire
 1,727
 2,623
 1,544
 2,313
 2,050


 Orkney Islands
 127
 108
 130
 180
 200


 Perth and Kinross
 1,107
 1,268
 1,202
 1,172
 860


 Renfrewshire
 814
 868
 772
 852
 946


 Scottish Borders
 246
 320
 298
 930
 749


 Shetland Islands
 163
 217
 156
 219
 209


 South Ayrshire
 682
 975
 558
 750
 111


 South Lanarkshire
 2,507
 1,986
 1,651
 1,727
 2,329


 Stirling
 326
 254
 109
 267
 392


 West Dunbartonshire2
 1,564
 -39
 456
 330
 194


 West Lothian
 707
 369
 636
 712
 720



  Source: As reported by local authorities on the statistical return LFR 9 Central Services .

  Notes:

  1. Dumfries and Galloway’s credit figure is 2003-04 due to recovery of cumulative surcharges for previous years

  2. West Dunbartonshire’s credit figure in 2003-04 is due to income generated from sales/rents/fees/charges exceeding costs debited to the account.

Dentistry

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will insist that denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians have to register with the General Dental Council by 31 July 2008, given that the course allowing them to do so is not yet available.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is already a legal requirement, and has been since July 2006, that clinical dental technicians (also known as denturists), who fit and make dentures, must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) in order to practise. Some have already registered. Regulation and registration, whose prime purpose is to enhance patient safety, allows clinical dental technicians to work within the law. In the past those fitting dentures were committing a criminal offence, as only dentists or persons acting under the supervision of dentists were able to do so.

  The 2006 legislation also requires dental technicians, who make but do not fit dentures, to register with the GDC by 31 July 2008. They have had since July 2006 to register on the basis of GDC approved experience and/or qualifications. From 31 July 2008 they can only register on the basis of approved qualifications. The GDC has carried out a widespread publicity campaign to ensure that dental technicians register before the deadline.

  There are a number of Scottish courses leading to the qualifications required for registration as a dental technician. It is also recognised that there are dental technicians who wish to register as clinical dental technicians so that they can fit as well as make dentures. A Scottish course has been developed for approval by the GDC.

  I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-11637 and S3W-11638 on 18 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Dentistry

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can act to defer the date of registration for Scottish denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians from 31 July 2008 until it is possible for them to meet the education and training requirements required for registration in Scotland and, if so, whether it has any plans to do so.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11641 on 22 April 2008. The legislation requiring these practitioners to register with the General Dental Council was laid before the Scottish Parliament as well as Westminster. There are no plans for any changes.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of S2 pupils did not achieve Level E in numeracy in each year since 1994-95.

Maureen Watt: In order to provide detail on the longer time series requested, information has been provided based on teachers’ judgements of mathematics collected through the Scottish Survey of Achievement and the previous 5-14 National Survey.

  The percentage of S2 pupils who did not achieve Level E in maths based on teachers’ judgements from 1999-2006 is contained in the table below:

  

 5-14 National Survey
 SSA1


 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006


 58
 53
 49
 46
 45
 41
 40
 36



  Notes:

  1. Scottish Survey of Achievement.

  Data is not available prior to 1999.

  Data on maths has been provided as a proxy for numeracy.

  Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA) results are based on a sample of pupils, the national survey was a census of all pupils in Scotland. Results from the national survey may therefore not be directly comparable with the results of the SSA.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of S2 pupils did not achieve Level E in writing in each year since 1994-95.

Maureen Watt: The percentage of S2 pupils who did not achieve level E in writing based on teachers’ judgements in each year since 1999-2006 is contained in the table below:

  

 5-14 National Survey
 SSA1


 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006


 62
 57
 54
 50
 49
 48
 49
 47



  Notes:

  1. Scottish Survey of Achievement.

  Data prior to 1999 is not available.

  SSA results are based on a sample of pupils, the national survey is based on a census of all pupils in Scotland. Results from the national survey may therefore not be directly comparable with the results of the SSA.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of S2 pupils did not achieve Level E in reading in each year since 1994-95.

Maureen Watt: In order to provide detail on the longer time series requested, information has been provided based on teachers’ judgements of reading collected through the Scottish Survey of Achievement and the previous 5-14 survey.

  The percentage of S2 pupils who did not achieve Level E in reading based on teachers’ judgements from 1999-2006 is contained in the table below:

  

 5-14 National Survey
 SSA1


 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006


 56
 47
 44
 41
 39
 36
 34
 35



  Notes:

  1. Scottish Survey of Achievement.

  Data is not available prior to 1999.

  Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA) results are based on a sample of pupils, the national survey was a census of all pupils in Scotland. Results from the national survey may therefore not be directly comparable with the results of the SSA.

Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the parents of pupils in private schools to choose to send their children to their local state school.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government and local government are working together to ensure that Scotland has an excellent education system. Through Curriculum for Excellence, this government is seeking to encourage and embed local educational excellence in all of our schools. It is a matter for parents to decide whether they wish their children to be educated in the private sector.

Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the impact of pupils attending private schools in Edinburgh on the provision of public education in the city.

Maureen Watt: No such specific estimate has been made. The City of Edinburgh Council’s fulfilment of its statutory duties to provide public education reflects the fact that those of the 10,000 pupils who attend independent schools in Edinburgh and who live locally do not require to be accommodated in local authority schools.

Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many screening decisions Scottish ministers have issued for projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects have been deemed to require the consent of Scottish ministers and the submission of an environmental statement to assist in the assessment of the project under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006; whether it will provide details of each such project, and, in each case, whether consent has been granted, not granted or a decision is still to be made.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to ensure that the consent of Scottish ministers is sought for all "relevant projects", as defined by the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the public register of screening decisions on the Scottish Government’s website will be updated.

Michael Russell: Scottish ministers have issued screening decision on 14 projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (Uncultivated Land and Semi-Natural Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 which they replaced. For 12 of these projects it was decided that there were no significant environmental effects and the applicants were notified appropriately. It was decided that the remaining two projects were "relevant projects" likely to have a significant effect on the environment and accordingly could not be carried out without consent of the Scottish ministers. If those projects are to proceed Environmental Statements are required in order to assess environmental impact and to determine if consent can be given. Environmental Statements are awaited from these applicants and consequently no consent decisions have been made.

  Rural Payments and Inspection Directorate (RPID) are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the regulations. It is for land managers to ensure that their farming actions comply with the regulations. RPID will offer advice and guidance on whether proposals fall within the scope of the regulations. An offence only occurs if works are covered by the regulations and the requirements of the regulations are not complied with. The regulations provide for powers of entry and inspection of land for the purposes of determining whether an offence under the regulations has occurred. Provision is also available to serve a stop notice to ensure that unauthorised works are stopped with immediate effect. The Scottish ministers may also serve a reinstatement notice upon persons responsible for committing an offence under the regulations requiring them to reinstate the relevant land to the condition it was before the project was commenced.

  Details of proposals submitted for screening can be viewed on the public register maintained under regulation 7(7) (b) of the 2006 Regulations on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agriculture/Environment/16808/Publicregister/publicregister.

  It was last updated on 10 April 2008.

Exports

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing estimates of the exports from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government attempts to estimate exports from Scotland to rest of UK using its annual global connections survey. The latest available estimates are for 2002 to 2005 and are available using the attached link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/Exports/RUKExports.

  The Scottish Government will publish figures for 2006 in due course. There are no plans to change the current methodology used.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10696 by Stewart Stevenson on 19 March 2008, whether it made use of the significant legal advice at its disposal when considering the legality of its decision to favour a select group of islands when introducing road equivalent tariff fares on ferry routes.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not normally indicate if legal advice has been taken on decisions.

Flooding

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has received specifically for flood defences in each of the last eight years, broken down by (a) a per capita basis and (b) miles of coastline.

Michael Russell: Under the 1961 act, each local authority received funding for flood prevention schemes based on the cost of the scheme. The grant payments made to each local authority for flood prevention schemes in each of the last eight years is shown in the following table. The population figures are for 2006. Length of coastline by local authority is not held centrally.

  

 Year
 Council
 Population
 Amount
 Amount Per Capita


 1999-2000
 Highland
 215,310
 23,577.61
 0.11


 
 Perth and Kinross
 140,190
 4,550,454.95
 32.46


 
 
 
 4,574,032.56
 


 2000-01
 Perth and Kinross
 140,190
 2,964,556.19
 21.15


 
 Fife
 358,390
 28,523.24
 0.08


 
 Renfrewshire
 169,590
 170,272.30
 1.00


 
 
 
 3,163,351.73
 


 2001-02
 Perth and Kinross
 140,190
 439,393.40
 3.13


 
 Renfrewshire
 169,590
 803,497.76
 4.74


 
 East Dunbartonshire
 105,460
 2,764,584.78
 26.21


 
 Inverclyde
 81,540
 100,396.04
 1.23


 
 Fife
 358,390
 50,115.91
 0.14


 
 
 
 4,157,987.89
 


 2002-03
 Renfrewshire
 169,590
 812,343.45
 4.79


 
 East Dunbartonshire
 105,460
 1,949,928.05
 18.49


 
 Inverclyde
 81,540
 39,117.70
 0.48


 
 Perth and Kinross
 140,190
 1,962,627.53
 14.00


 
 Aberdeenshire
 236,250
 204,969.81
 0.87


 
 North Ayrshire
 135,490
 150,083.78
 1.11


 
 
 
 5,119,070.32
 


 2003-04
 North Ayrshire
 135,490
 321,907.77
 2.38


 
 Inverclyde
 81,540
 15,501.53
 0.19


 
 Argyll and Bute
 91,390
 250,499.85
 2.74


 
 East Ayrshire
 119,290
 2,131,814.72
 17.87


 
 Aberdeenshire
 236,250
 33,100.83
 0.14


 
 Renfrewshire
 169,590
 274,149.54
 1.62


 
 Perth and Kinross
 140,190
 1,846,224.78
 13.17


 
 East Dunbartonshire
 105,460
 250000
 2.37


 
 Aberdeen
 206,880
 150000
 0.73


 
 West Lothian
 165,700
 350000
 2.11


 
 
 
 5,623,199.02
 


 2004-05
 West Lothian
 165,700
 215,758.61
 1.30


 
 Argyll and Bute
 91,390
 854,498.80
 9.35


 
 East Ayrshire
 119,290
 2,506,633.81
 21.01


 
 Aberdeen
 206,880
 93,315.00
 0.45


 
 Dumfries and Galloway
 148,030
 559,530.60
 3.78


 
 Renfrewshire
 169,590
 29,294.40
 0.17


 
 Moray
 86,750
 1,097,253.36
 12.65


 
 North Ayrshire
 135,490
 22,938.10
 0.17


 
 Perth and Kinross
 140,190
 612,747.26
 4.37


 
 East Dunbartonshire
 105,460
 414000
 3.93


 
 Edinburgh City
 463,510
 1400000
 3.02


 
 
 
 7,805,969.94
 


 2005-06
 East Dunbartonshire
 105,460
 1,366,337.15
 12.96


 
 Dumfries and Galloway
 148,030
 78,423.61
 0.53


 
 East Ayrshire
 119,290
 534,338.86
 4.48


 
 Argyll and Bute
 91,390
 228,135.82
 2.50


 
 Moray
 86,750
 756,844.13
 8.72


 
 Edinburgh City
 463,510
 1,030,697.43
 2.22


 
 Aberdeen
 206,880
 27000
 0.13


 
 Perth and Kinross
 140,190
 487459
 3.48


 
 West Lothian
 165,700
 199000
 1.20


 
 
 
 4,708,236.00
 


 2006-07
 East Dunbartonshire
 105,460
 145,834.89
 1.38


 
 Moray
 86,750
 455,565.33
 5.25


 
 Perth and Kinross
 140,190
 770,696.48
 5.50


 
 West Lothian
 165,700
 4,221.77
 0.03


 
 Dumfries and Galloway
 148,030
 19,628.52
 0.13


 
 Edinburgh City
 463,510
 2,201,431.19
 4.75


 
 Glasgow City
 580,690
 2,739,077.99
 4.72


 
 South Lanarkshire
 307,670
 520,861.00
 1.69


 
 Fife
 358,390
 966200
 2.70


 
 East Ayrshire
 119,290
 1215181
 10.19


 
 
 
 9,038,698.17
 


 2007-08*
 Perth and Kinross
 140,190
 39,045.12
 0.28


 
 East Ayrshire
 119,290
 5,829,549.22
 48.87


 
 South Lanarkshire
 307,670
 836,545.93
 2.72


 
 Fife
 358,390
 596,834.37
 1.67


 
 West Lothian
 165,700
 447,610.98
 2.70


 
 Moray
 86,750
 2,705,177.42
 31.18


 
 North Ayrshire
 135,490
 152,703.32
 1.13


 
 Falkirk
 149,680
 319,080.03
 2.13


 
 Edinburgh City
 463,510
 7,022,590.92
 15.15


 
 
 
 17,949,137.31
 



  Note: *Payments to 26 March 2008

Health

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors heart disease figures in terms of ethnic breakdown.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on ethnic origin is not collected comprehensively on central statistical returns. Primary and secondary care databases have the facility to capture information on ethnic origin but recording is not a mandatory requirement of these databases. As a consequence, it is not possible to provide information on the ethnic origin of patients with heart disease.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients died in each of the last five years where a fall in hospital was a contributory factor, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Data on deaths relating to falls in hospitals are not held centrally.

  Information from death registrations can identify where a fall was involved, but it is not possible to accurately separate out whether or not falls took place in hospital. Table 1 shows number of deaths where a fall was the (main) underlying cause of death. Table 2 shows number of deaths where a fall was a contributory factor, but not the (main) underlying cause of death.

  Table 1: Deaths where a Fall was the Underlying Cause of Death - Scotland, by NHS Board of Residence, 2002-06

  

 
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006


 Scotland
 668
 668
 690
 676
 642


 Ayrshire and Arran
 38
 33
 45
 47
 40


 Borders
 28
 28
 27
 15
 20


 Dumfries and Galloway
 24
 29
 23
 25
 15


 Fife
 50
 35
 61
 41
 46


 Forth Valley
 37
 36
 55
 30
 43


 Grampian
 59
 56
 55
 68
 57


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 166
 159
 138
 136
 139


 Highland
 50
 54
 54
 73
 54


 Lanarkshire
 58
 83
 60
 71
 60


 Lothian
 95
 89
 98
 108
 96


 Orkney
 1
 
 6
 2
 4


 Shetland
 4
 2
 5
 6
 5


 Tayside
 54
 60
 63
 50
 60


 Western Isles
 4
 4
 
 4
 3



  Table 2: Deaths where a Fall was a Contributory Event but not the Underlying Cause of Death – Scotland, by NHS Board of Residence, 2002-06

  

 
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006


 Scotland
 570
 642
 542
 654
 587


 Ayrshire and Arran
 52
 46
 48
 47
 51


 Borders
 15
 25
 20
 20
 16


 Dumfries and Galloway
 14
 20
 18
 23
 19


 Fife
 34
 43
 45
 44
 31


 Forth Valley
 36
 39
 28
 48
 44


 Grampian
 52
 53
 46
 60
 55


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 128
 121
 104
 123
 131


 Highland
 40
 44
 29
 41
 30


 Lanarkshire
 56
 62
 50
 84
 55


 Lothian
 98
 128
 90
 114
 97


 Orkney
 0
 0
 5
 2
 5


 Shetland
 2
 2
 1
 1
 0


 Tayside
 40
 56
 56
 43
 51


 Western Isles
 3
 3
 2
 4
 2



  Source: General Register Office for Scotland.

  Following the work of the Falls Prevention Group, the Scottish Government published guidance earlier this year for health boards, community health partnerships and others on actions to prevent falls by older people and improve bone health. The guidance is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/OlderPeopleCare/fallsgroup.

  Research evidence indicates that up to 30% of falls amongst community-based older people could be prevented through comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for investigating falls in hospitals.

Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance on the prevention of falls is available to the NHS in HDL (2007) 13:

  http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/HDL2007_13.pdf.

  Recording and investigating the circumstances of falls and subsequent action is the responsibility of NHS boards. The guidance requires NHS boards to ensure protocols are in place to ensure the risk of falls in hospital is minimised; to establish a systematic process for the management and prevention of falls; to facilitate education and training for staff; and to ensure the accurate recording and monitoring of incidents. Every NHS board is required to appoint a falls prevention co-ordinator to develop a joined-up approach for minimising the likelihood of falls.

Health

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with national organisations representing disabled people and ethnic minorities on the closure of the Fair for All - Disability and Fair for All - Race projects before the establishment of the new Directorate of Equalities and Planning of NHS Health Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: The work-programme, and associated resources of the Fair for All – Disability and Fair for All – Race projects, transferred to NHS Health Scotland’s new equalities and planning directorate in April 2008. We are committed to ensuring that.

  Each of the six Fair for All projects was asked to consult the communities they represented to explain the arrangements being put in place when their work was transferred to the new directorate. These consultations were in addition to those carried out by NHS Health Scotland with NHS boards and other key stakeholders across Scotland, including the Disability Rights Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, and latterly the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

  The output of the various Fair for All projects clearly showed that inequalities in health are compounded by people’s individual life circumstances. An aim of establishing the new directorate was therefore to give clear strategic accountability for the delivery of the Fair for All agenda by embedding it within NHS Health Scotland’s wider health inequalities functions.

Health

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation and engagement took place with national organisations representing disabled people and ethnic minorities on involving them in the detail of how the new Directorate of Equalities and Planning of NHS Health Scotland will work with NHS boards.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11935 on 22 April 2008, which explains the engagement which took place with equality groups prior to the establishment of the directorate of equalities within NHS Health Scotland. The directorate has also begun meetings with a range of national organisations to build on the productive relations they established with the individual Fair for All projects.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff of Highlands and Islands Enterprise who were granted voluntary severance have been able to take their pensions early and whether pension entitlement to normal retirement age has been protected as part of their severance arrangements.

Jim Mather: Provision of staff pensions is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chief executive to write to you in this regard.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its officials gave approval to the terms of the voluntary severance arrangements recently offered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to its staff.

Jim Mather: Yes. Under the terms of the management statement governing the relationship between the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, any proposal by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to pay any redundancy or compensation for loss of office, requires the approval of Scottish Government officials.

  Once official approval was granted on 5 February 2008, the implementation of the proposal as a selective voluntary severance scheme became an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount of voluntary severance payments have been made by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to reduce its staffing levels in light of recent reductions in its budget.

Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise offered voluntary severance in the 2007-08 financial year as a result of the reform and refocus of the enterprise networks announced in September 2007.

  Once official approval to implement a severance scheme has been granted, the payment of voluntary severance to staff is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chief executive to write to you in this regard.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish full details of the severance package offered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to its staff seeking voluntary severance.

Jim Mather: Once official approval to implement a severance scheme has been granted, publication of the full details of the severance package offered to its staff seeking voluntary severance is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chief executive to write to you in this regard.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what payments were made to pension funds by Highlands and Islands Enterprise as part of the voluntary severance arrangements put in place to reduce its staffing levels.

Jim Mather: Once official approval to implement a severance scheme has been granted, payment to pension funds as part of the voluntary severance arrangements is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chief executive to write to you in this regard.

Homecoming Scotland

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding to support events as part of the Homecoming 2009 programme has been allocated.

Jim Mather: The Homecoming team is pleased with the response it has had from event owners and organisers around the country who are keen to run events in support of the Homecoming programme for 2009. The team is now working to conclude contractual negotiations with events that have been selected for funding. Further information about successful events and the allocation of funding is planned to be available in the week commencing 26 May when the Homecoming Programme will be launched.

Homecoming Scotland

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount of funding it has allocated to support events organised by community and other organisations that will feature as part of Homecoming 2009.

Jim Mather: The Homecoming team is currently undertaking contractual negotiations with a range of event organisers from the community, public and commercial sectors. Details on the allocation of funding will be available in the week commencing 26 May when it is planned that the full Homecoming Programme will be launched.

Hospital-Acquired Infections

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) there have been in each year since 1997, also broken down by (a) type of infection, (b) number of deaths resulting from HAI, (c) NHS board and (d) hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: Data on specific selected healthcare associated infections (HAIs) were only routinely collected following the issue of Health Department Letter HDL (2001) 57 in 2001, and the information sought is not held in the format requested. It is also the case that there are no accurate or complete historical records available in Scotland to indicate whether an HAI (as opposed to a specific individual organism) was the cause of death, or whether the deceased contracted the infection in hospital.

  However, a range of reports on key infections are routinely published in Scotland which help to inform the drive and the focus of our HAI agenda. These are: quarterly rates of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias (last published on 1 April 2008); quarterly rates of Clostridium difficile (last published on 2 April 2008) and annual rates of Surgical Site Infections (last published on 5 March 2008). All publications are available from the Health Protection Scotland (HPS) website:

  http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/pubs/index.aspx.

  In addition, the thorough Scottish HAI National Point Prevalence Survey published on 11 July 2007 provides detailed information on the estimated prevalence of HAI in Scotland and of the specific types of HAI in adult inpatients in acute and community hospitals in Scotland. The findings in the survey provided the basis of our new HAI Delivery Plan, which was put in place on 1 April. The survey is also available from the HPS website.

Local Government Finance

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding and guidance it has given to local authorities to support the community engagement agenda set out in the concordat with COSLA.

John Swinney: Engaging communities in the planning and delivery of services remains of key importance in the context of the concordat with COSLA. COSLA has previously endorsed the National Standards for Community Engagement as the main strategic guidance on how to engage with communities. Under funding arrangements agreed in the concordat, local authorities now have more freedom than ever before to allocate funding as they see fit to meet both local and national outcomes.

Local Government Finance

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has allocated to each local authority to support the community engagement agenda set out in the concordat with COSLA.

John Swinney: Engaging communities in the planning and delivery of services remains of key importance in the context of the concordat with COSLA. There is no ring-fenced grant for community engagement and local authorities now have more freedom to allocate funding as they see fit.

Local Government Finance

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it views the role of community forums in relation to the community engagement agenda set out in the concordat with COSLA.

John Swinney: Engaging communities in the planning and delivery of services remains of key importance in the context of the concordat with COSLA. Section 15(1) of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 requires local authorities, as facilitators, to consult and co-operate with community bodies and other public sector bodies as appropriate in the Community Planning process.

Local Government Finance

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have submitted draft single outcome agreements for consideration, which local authorities have done so and, in which specific areas of their responsibility.

John Swinney: Draft proposals for single outcome agreements have been submitted by all 32 councils. All councils have assessed their local priorities and proposed appropriate local outcomes and described how they will contribute to the Scottish Government’s national outcomes. At this stage some single outcome agreement proposals include the responsibilities of community planning partnerships where councils have a significant part to play, and for 2009-10 this will be the case for all single outcome agreements.

Local Government Finance

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the finalised single outcome agreements for each local authority will be published.

John Swinney: We aim to complete the process of agreeing single outcome agreements for 2008-09 with all 32 councils by 30 June 2008. Subject to agreement with councils, all finalised agreements will be made publicly available shortly thereafter.

Local Income Tax

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has to support the assertion that the cost of local income tax would be less than the cost of abolishing the council tax.

John Swinney: The Local Government Finance Review Committee estimated that the abolition of council tax and the implementation of a local income tax would result in annual administrative savings of £14 to 25 million per annum. The Scottish Government is currently consulting on its proposals for the abolition of council tax and its replacement with a local income tax, and as part of this process we will seek to work with HM Revenue and Customs and others to update these estimates.

Local Income Tax

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its local income tax (LIT) proposals, what the estimated set-up and running costs are to (a) collect LIT by HM Revenue and Customs, (b) collect water and sewerage rates and (c) administer and maintain a register of second homes, and what the associated costs would be for employers to administer LIT.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government's proposals to abolish the council tax and replace it with a local income tax are currently subject to consultation. Ministers will publish further details taking account of responses to that consultation once the consultation is concluded. In light of these planned changes in local government finance, ministers also intend to consult later this year on future domestic water billing and charging arrangements.

Local Income Tax

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence it has had with HM Treasury regarding HM Revenue and Customs’ role in collecting local income tax.

John Swinney: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to inform her of the launch of the consultation. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury replied. Officials from the Scottish Government have passed copies of the consultation paper to a number of colleagues in UK Government departments including HM Treasury.

Local Income Tax

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which directorate initiated the local income tax consultation document.

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which directorate wrote the local income tax consultation.

John Swinney: The Public Service Reform directorate.

Local Income Tax

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it sought any external consultancy services throughout the process of developing and writing the local income tax consultation document, whether there was a tender and, if so, which company undertook the work and what the estimated costs were of the tendering process and contract awarded.

John Swinney: No.

Local Income Tax

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of the local income tax consultation were printed and what the estimated costs were of publication and distribution.

John Swinney: To date around 150 copies have been printed and distributed. Routine printing and postage costs such as these are absorbed as part of general admin costs and are not itemised separately.

Local Income Tax

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether overtime would be taxable under plans for a local income tax.

John Swinney: Yes.

Local Income Tax

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure that local income taxpayers will not pay more for the same local services because of the amount of overtime they work.

John Swinney: Many of the people who currently work overtime do not live in households that are in the top income decile. Under the Scottish Government’s proposals for a local income tax, average households in each of the first nine income deciles will pay less.

Local Income Tax

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether student loans and postgraduate bursaries are considered as income under plans to introduce a local income tax.

John Swinney: No. Such income will not be liable for local income tax.

NHS Hospitals

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has now considered the outline business case for the South Glasgow Hospital Project, previously approved by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on 19 February 2008.

Shona Robison: I am pleased to confirm that following a rigorous review of the proposal The Scottish Government has now granted approval of the Outline Business Case for the New Southern Hospitals Project in Glasgow. The proposed investment will completely redevelop the Southern General Hospital and would also provide a new state of the art Children’s Hospital for the West of Scotland.

  The total capital cost of the project is £842 million. In accordance with the preferred option in the Outline Business Case the Scottish Government has agreed that project will be funded through the use of public capital. In considering the options for funding this project The Scottish Government has sought to ensure that the project is deliverable, affordable, sustainable and represents best value for money for the taxpayer.

  The sources of funding are £270 million from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde allocations and capital receipts, £20 million from locally held endowments with the balance of £552 million being provided by the Scottish Government.

NHS Staff

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board spent on (a) bank and (b) agency staff in the last year.

Nicola Sturgeon: The amount spent on bank and agency staff in the 2006-07 was:

  

 NHS Board
Bank (£000)
Agency (£000)


 Ayrshire and Arran
 4,063
 6,637


 Borders
 1,083
 1,358


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1,651
 2,523


 Fife
 4,274
 5,606


 Forth Valley
 4,682
 7,619


 Grampian
 9,598
 2,464


 Greater Glasgow
 21,271
 19,729


 Highland
 4,155
 7,284


 Lanark shire
 8,986
 3,843


 Lothian
 14,283
 17,588


 Orkney
 227
 731


 Shetland
 334
 1,351


 Tayside
 3,448
 4,246


 Western Isles
 317
 902


 Total
 78,373
 81,881

NHS Staff

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of each NHS board’s budget was spent on (a) bank and (b) agency staff in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The percentage of each board’s budget which was spent on bank staff was:

  

 NHS Board
2002-03 (%)
2003-04 (%)
2004-05 (%)
2005-06 (%)
2006-07 (%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 0.6%
 0.6%
 0.7%
 0.6%
 N/A


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0.5%
 0.6%
 0.8%
 0.6%
 0.7%


 Borders
 1.0%
 0.9%
 0.8%
 0.5%
 0.7%


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0.1%
 0.6%
 0.6%
 0.5%
 0.7%


 Fife
 0.7%
 0.8%
 0.8%
 0.9%
 0.9%


 Forth Valley
 0.9%
 1.1%
 1.1%
 1.1%
 1.2%


 Grampian
 0.8%
 1.1%
 1.0%
 1.2%
 1.4%


 Greater Glasgow
 0.8%
 0.9%
 1.1%
 1.1%
 1.1%


 Highland
 0.8%
 1.0%
 0.9%
 0.8%
 0.8%


 Lanark shire
 0.4%
 0.5%
 0.7%
 1.0%
 1.2%


 Lothian
 1.2%
 1.2%
 1.4%
 1.4%
 1.4%


 Orkney
 1.0%
 0.9%
 0.7%
 0.6%
 0.7%


 Shetland
 0.7%
 0.8%
 0.7%
 0.9%
 0.8%


 Tayside
 0.4%
 0.5%
 0.4%
 0.5%
 0.6%


 Western Isles
 0.8%
 1.0%
 1.0%
 0.9%
 0.5%


 Total
 0.7%
 0.9%
 0.9%
 1.0%
 1.0%



  The percentage of each board’s budget which was spent on agency staff was:

  

 NHS Board
2002-03 (%)
2003-04 (%)
2004-05 (%)
2005-06 (%)
2006-07 (%)


 Argyll and Clyde
 2.9%
 2.0%
 1.5%
 1.7%
 


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0.8%
 0.7%
 0.6%
 1.0%
 1.2%


 Borders
 0.9%
 1.2%
 1.0%
 1.1%
 0.8%


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0.8%
 1.1%
 1.1%
 1.3%
 1.0%


 Fife
 1.3%
 1.2%
 1.4%
 1.4%
 1.1%


 Forth Valley
 1.7%
 1.9%
 1.8%
 1.9%
 2.0%


 Grampian
 1.1%
 0.9%
 0.2%
 0.3%
 0.4%


 Greater Glasgow
 2.8%
 2.8%
 1.0%
 0.9%
 1.0%


 Highland
 1.1%
 1.1%
 1.9%
 1.1%
 1.5%


 Lanark shire
 0.5%
 0.4%
 0.3%
 0.4%
 0.5%


 Lothian
 2.9%
 2.7%
 2.6%
 1.3%
 1.7%


 Orkney
 1.6%
 1.3%
 1.2%
 2.1%
 2.1%


 Shetland
 2.3%
 2.5%
 3.2%
 2.1%
 3.4%


 Tayside
 2.0%
 2.0%
 0.7%
 0.7%
 0.7%


 Western Isles
 1.2%
 1.0%
 2.3%
 2.5%
 1.5%


 Total
 1.9%
 1.8%
 1.2%
 1.0%
 1.1%

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards achieved a 4% sickness absence rate by March 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS sickness absence rates for March 2008 are not yet available.

  The sickness absence rates for February 2008 showed that NHS Education for Scotland (NES), NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, NHS Health Scotland, and NHS State Hospital had sickness absence rates below 4%.

NHS Waiting Times

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a patient, in the case of being deemed by a doctor or hospital manager to be unsuitable for treatment on medical grounds, has the right to be present at the review or is consulted before being removed from the waiting list.

Nicola Sturgeon: Published guidance on the management of waiting lists makes it clear that where for medical reasons a patient becomes unavailable while they are waiting for treatment, and is likely to be unavailable for more than seven days, then the patient’s waiting times clock will be stopped and re-started when the patient becomes available again.

  The guidance further states that patients who are unavailable for treatment for medical reasons should be reviewed within 13 weeks. If no end date to the unavailability is known at that review, then the health care professional responsible for the patient’s treatment will decide whether the patient should remain on the waiting list or be returned to the care of their GP. This decision can be made only by the health care professional responsible for treating the patient, who will not remove a patient if it is clinically inappropriate to do so.

  Arrangements for discussing a patient’s care and treatment with them, including their medical availability for treatment, are matters for the clinicians concerned. It would be good practice for the responsible clinician to discuss with a patient future arrangements for managing their condition, including any decision to return the patient to the care of their GP.

NHS Waiting Times

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a patient’s GP is consulted by the hospital manager or doctor prior to their undertaking a review at 13 weeks, the point at which the patient may be removed from the waiting list.

Nicola Sturgeon: The question is relevant to patients who are on a waiting list for hospital treatment and who become unavailable for treatment for medical reasons. Decisions about how best to manage the patient’s medical condition are clinical matters for the healthcare professional responsible for that patient’s treatment. The responsible health care professional will normally be the hospital consultant or another appropriate member of the clinical team, who will decide whether to discuss management of the patient’s case further, taking account of the individual circumstances of the case.

  Published national guidance on the management of waiting lists makes it clear that the patient and the patient’s GP should be informed if a decision is made to return a patient to the care of the GP. The GP can of course decide to re-refer the patient.

  A decision to return a patient to the care of their GP can be made only by the health care professional responsible for treating the patient, who will not remove a patient from a waiting list if it is clinically inappropriate to do so.

NHS Waiting Times

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether every patient has an opportunity to correct any errors in the recorded data before they are removed from a hospital waiting list.

Nicola Sturgeon: All personal information held by hospitals, including data about patients on waiting lists, is subject to the Data Protection Act. Under the act, anyone who has information about them stored has the right to see that information and to request that any inaccurate information is corrected.

  I have reminded NHS boards of this and of the importance of ensuring that patients are well informed about their waiting status. In particular, I have asked boards to ensure that arrangements are in place so that patients can review the waiting times information held about them and, if necessary, have any inaccurate information corrected.

National Health Service

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde replies to my letter dated 8 October 2007, and subsequent reminders dated 28 January and 29 February 2008, in relation to Agenda for Change.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is the responsibility of NHS boards to deal with any correspondence sent to them and ensure that appropriate responses are issued. Since receiving your question my officials have been in touch with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. I understand that a preliminary response was sent on 26 February confirming that the matter you had raised was being looked into and that a final reply will be issued once further information is available.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister has asked for his views to be notified to officials in respect of any development applications under planning legislation since his appointment and, if so, how, in what way, on how many occasions and in respect of which application.

Michael Russell: The First Minister has done so on one occasion, when he received representations from MSPs relating to the handling of planning applications made by Aviemore Highland Resorts Ltd. A note of the discussion between the First Minister and the Minister for Environment was circulated to officials. A copy of this note was released under Freedom of Information and can be found on the Scottish Government’s website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/FOI/Disclosures/2008/02/Aviemore/Planning.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how a request from the First Minister to ask for his views on a development application to be drawn to the attention of planning officials is handled where the application is not in the First Minister’s constituency and what safeguards are in place to ensure that the normal procedures and arrangements for dealing with applications under planning legislation are not departed from when such a request is made.

Michael Russell: Scottish Government ministers are acutely aware of their planning responsibilities and discharge their functions fairly and responsibly having regard to the Scottish Ministerial Code and all relevant planning legislation.

  Paragraphs 6.7 - 6.12 of the code are particularly relevant to the handling of a planning application. The code is available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/08/17996/25267.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date (a) ministers and (b) planning officials were made aware of planning application from Laurel Grant Ltd to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Ref 06/431/CP) which could only be implemented with the co-operation of Aviemore Highland Resort, specifying the dates on which each minister was notified by officials.

Michael Russell: Government planning officials, as part of their territorial liaison responsibilities, were aware in December 2007 that the Laurel Grant Ltd application, among others, was to be considered by the Cairngorm National Park Authority on 11 January 2008. Laurel Grant Ltd subsequently wrote to Scottish ministers on 5 February 2008 in connection with their proposed development. Consideration of, and decision on, the planning application were for the Park Authority.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister sought to intervene in support of the planning application from Laurel Grant Ltd to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Ref 06/431/CP) to secure an earlier decision or to expedite the handling of this application by any agency under the direction of the Scottish Government and, if so, whether the intervention took the form of letters, emails, or meetings.

Michael Russell: No.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministerial intervention secured an earlier response from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or a speedier decision regarding the planning application from Aviemore Highland Resorts Ltd (Ref 07/445/CP) when compared with timescales for the handling of other similar applications and, in particular, the planning application from Laurel Grant Ltd to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Ref 06/431/CP) and, if so, whether it is satisfied that all applications are treated even-handedly.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government neither intervened nor influenced the outcome of the Aviemore Highland Resort or Laurel Grant planning applications. In the case of Aviemore Highland Resort planning applications ministers responded to representations by seeking reassurances that the planning process was not being impeded unreasonably by agencies of central government. No representation or concerns had been raised with respect to the Laurel Grant planning application. The planning system seeks to ensure that all applications are treated even-handedly and that informed decisions are reached.

Post Offices

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what examination it has undertaken of the propriety of it subsidising post offices in Scotland.

John Swinney: Post offices are reserved under Schedule 5 (Section C11) of the Scotland Act 1998. The Government’s position on this issue was set out in my letter dated 29 January 2008 to the Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/petitions/petitionsubmissions/sub-08/08-PE1102D.pdf.

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will commence consultation on the use of funds from dormant bank accounts, as promised during the parliamentary debate on 24 January 2008 ( Official Report c. 5388).

John Swinney: The consultation process will begin with an initial scoping seminar to be held in Edinburgh on 13 May 2008, hosted by the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations. This will involve the Big Lottery Fund, national umbrella and intermediary bodies and voluntary sector networks. The dates and venues for regional events across Scotland will be announced shortly.

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7989 by Jim Mather on 8 February 2008, what progress has been made on plans for the distribution of its share of funding from the UK unclaimed assets scheme.

Jim Mather: The consultation process will begin with an initial scoping seminar to be held in Edinburgh on 13 May 2008, hosted by the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations. This will involve the Big Lottery Fund, national umbrella and intermediary bodies and the voluntary sector networks. The dates and venues for regional events across Scotland will be announced shortly.

Regeneration

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7530 by Jim Mather on 17 December 2008, whether it intends to classify the project to develop the Ravenscraig site as significant at (a) local, (b) regional or (c) national level.

Jim Mather: Support for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site has been provided mainly by Scottish Enterprise who have classified the project as being of regional significance.

Regeneration

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7530 by Jim Mather on 17 December 2007, whether the Scottish Enterprise funding commitment for the Ravenscraig site includes funding for phase two of the development project.

Jim Mather: Support for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site has been provided mainly by Scottish Enterprise. As such, this is an operational matter for that organisation. I shall ask the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you in this regard.

  I was pleased to note the recent positive press coverage of the project and recognise that it is important to have good lines of communication in relation to this important project. That is why I have recently agreed to host a meeting involving relevant stakeholders, to discuss a range of issues relating to the project. This meeting is likely to take place in May 2008.

Regeneration

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it expects Scottish Enterprise to play in phase two of the development of the Ravenscraig site.

Jim Mather: Support for the redevelopment of the Ravenscraig site has been provided mainly by Scottish Enterprise. As such, the role that will be played in phase two will be an operational matter for that organisation. I shall ask the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you in this regard.

  I was pleased to note the recent positive press coverage of the project and recognise that it is important to have good lines of communication in relation to this important project. That is why I have recently agreed to host a meeting involving relevant stakeholders, to discuss a range of issues relating to the project. This meeting is likely to take place in May 2008.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide details of its marine energy policy group, announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism on 6 March 2008

Jim Mather: Details for the marine energy policy group are available on the Scottish Government website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/19185/MEPS .

  The marine energy policy group will decide upon a defined programme of work during its first meetings.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when its marine energy policy group will hold its inaugural meeting.

Jim Mather: We intend to hold the first meeting of the marine energy policy group during summer this year.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which stakeholders have been invited to take part in its marine energy policy group.

Jim Mather: A list of invited stakeholders can be found in our marine energy policy statement:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/19185/MEPS.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who will chair its marine energy policy group.

Jim Mather: The group will be chaired by officials from the Scottish Government’s marine directorate.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit of its marine energy policy group will be.

Jim Mather: The marine energy policy group will lead on actions relating to the undertaking of further environmental research, monitoring, and production of locational guidance for the marine renewable energy sector.

  The group will establish a programme of work during its initial meetings.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its marine energy policy group will produce a formal report on its findings and conclusions and, if so, when it will be produced.

Jim Mather: The format of outputs and the timescales for completing work will be a matter for the marine energy policy group to decide, and will depend upon the nature and scale of environmental research needed.

Rural Development

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that limiting applications to the Rural Developments Contracts – Rural Priorities programme to those made online complies with all EU regulations governing access to grant schemes.

Michael Russell: Yes.

Scottish Enterprise

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by Scottish Enterprise in payments to senior staff who have left the company since May 2007, broken down by position.

Jim Mather: The detail of any payments made by Scottish Enterprise to its former employees is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I shall ask the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you in this regard.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the development of a job evaluation scheme by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has cost in terms of (a) staff time and (b) total cash spent.

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s pay and grading imposition exercise, started in September 2007, has cost.

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s new pay structure contains a mechanism to ensure a correlation between length of service and pay position for all posts.

Michael Russell: Pay and grading of Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) staff is an operational matter for SEPA’s management team, within overall financial limits set by the Scottish Government, and in accordance with policies and guidance on public sector pay. I have asked Dr Campbell Gemmell, Chief Executive of SEPA, to respond direct to the detailed issues you have raised.

Scottish Government Ministers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of MSPs who serve as parliamentary private secretaries to cabinet secretaries and ministers.

Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government does not have a system of Parliamentary Private Secretaries.

Scottish Government Ministers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of MSPs who act as government advisers to the First Minister or other members of the cabinet.

Bruce Crawford: No MSPs act as Government Advisers to the First Minister or other members of the Cabinet.

Scottish Government Ministers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which MSPs, other than cabinet secretaries and ministers, act as government spokespersons.

Bruce Crawford: No MSPs other than the First Minister, Cabinet Secretaries and ministers act as Government spokespersons.

Scottish Government Staff

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff it currently employs, broken down by pay scale bracket.

John Swinney: As at 31 March 2008 the number of permanent staff employed within the Scottish Government core is as follows:

  

 Pay Band
 Number of Staff


 Band A
 1,065


 Band B
 2,386


 Band C
 733


 Senior Civil Service
 173


 Non-Assimilated *
 34



  Note: *Non-assimilated grades are those staff who do not fall within the standard Scottish Government Main pay and grading structure.

Scottish Government Staff

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff currently work overtime on a regular basis, broken down by pay scale bracket.

John Swinney: For the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 the number of Scottish Government core staff who worked regular paid overtime was as follows:

  

 Pay Band
 Number of Staff


 Band A
 70


 Band B
 82


 Band C
 16



  Note: Regular overtime has been deemed to be overtime paid in six or more months during the 2007-08 financial year.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make advice on water conservation and household waste reduction available through the five new energy advice centres in Scotland and, if not, how it intends that such advice will be made available.

Jim Mather: There are already plans for the Energy Saving Scotland advice network to deliver water conservation advice from 2009. We are actively exploring how the network can build on and add value to current initiatives on household waste, such as Waste Aware Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Government, it provides information and practical advice to householders on waste prevention.